So... if you've heard a little k.d. lang, think you might like her and want to buy an album I'm writing to say that Shadowland and Drag are the two, of hers, that I like most. Not "Ingenue" which seems to be others' favorite (too boring) and not "Absolute Torch and Twang," in which, frankly I don't hear *absolute* torch nor twang the way I do in "Shadowland."

"Shadowland" has country music in its blood. Not bluegrass or Hank Williams country, and not recent-pop country. Lang has a style all her own. "Waltz Me Once Again Around The Dance Floor" makes me want to, and "Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them," beautifully sweeping, makes me want k.d. not to be the one crying.

This album has some faster (not extremely fast) songs--in a country, guitar, groove way--and it has slower, sweet, and smart songs of love and love lost. My husband commented to me that it sounds a bit 1940's to him; I'd go along with that.

I wouldn't hesitate to start with "Shadowland" as an introduction. I give 4 stars rather than 5 because, to me, 5 is perfection. 4 stars is the highest without eligibility for the Nobel Prize. Try out "Shadowland" if you're looking for some country-based music with a very female and surprisingly beautiful voice that is lush and interesting. k.d. lang has personality and her voice is truly quite lovely.


One top voice   April 12, 2004
Antonio M Vazquezpausa (Miami, Fl United States)
25 out of 26 found this review helpful

Kd Lang is ,in my opinion,the best North American female voice of her time.But not all of her Cds are as satisfying as this one.This one shows the Nashville influenced side of Kathryn Dawn Lang as arranged by Owen Bradley who also produced Patsy Cline.In songs like BLACK COFFEE,the title track and I WISH I DIDN'T LOVE YOU SO she passionately and contemporarily delivers tunes written way before her time.She sings DON'T LEt THE STARS...a 50's hit with
unique vigor and belts out the CHris ISaak penned WESTERN STARS so appropriately as the disk opener.It was the first Kd Cd I ever bought and what an introduction it was!


Updated country sounds from a powerhouse voice   January 8, 2004
Bruce Hodges (New York, NY)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

You don't have to like country music to appreciate k.d. lang's extraordinary talent. Produced by country veteran Owen Bradley, this was arguably the recording that put her on the map, with Bradley's super-polished array of songs highlighting her crystal-clear instrument and winning her millions of new fans. Since this CD, she has ventured far and wide, but to many, this will be remembered as the project where it all began.

The title track sets the tone, tapping into country music's wells of melancholy, although Lang's demeanor, persona and voice can't really be put squarely in the country camp. Her influences are much broader, including contemporaries like Chris Isaak, whose suave "Western Stars" opens the disc. Throughout, lang mixes hardcore country -- check out the opening chorus in the lovely "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" -- with what might be characterized as "1940's lounge," and sounds glorious. She could be equally at home in a smoky night club or at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.

By the time the stunning "Busy Being Blue" arrives, you may think you've never heard a voice like this. After a quiet introduction, the song builds until lang is completely engulfed in a rapturous, torchy wail. This is simply great singing, whatever genre. The final track, "Honky Tonk Angels," features Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells, whose winsome, plaintive harmonies end the set on a sentimental high note.

The recorded sound is beautifully clear, fully capturing lang's huge cries as well as her quieter moments of lazy sensuality. From an artist who has done many fine recordings, this is one of her best, with influences new and old, and also one of the great recordings of the 1980's.


K.D.Lang - The Midas Touch   April 2, 2000
dev1 (Baltimore)
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

Shadowland is subtitled `The Owen Bradley Sessions' for good reason: Owen Bradley is one of the main people responsible for the evolution of the Nashville Sound. He minimized the use of fiddles and steel guitars while emphasizing strings and backing vocals. Bradley's production ideas gave artists such as Eddy Arnold, Kitty Wells, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee and Loretta Lynn crossover appeal. Once considered `hillbillies,' artists became popular both in the Country and Pop Charts. K. D. Lang has always had the Midas touch: everything she touches (including Shadowland) turns to gold. Shadowlands is a country CD for people who don't like country music. K. D.'s voice is sultry, smoky and pleading. Favorites include `I Wish I Didn't Love You So,' `Shadowland' and `Tears Don't Care Who Cries Them.' Can anyone do loss-and-heartache better than K. D. Lang? Not for my money.


Harmonic Convergence   April 27, 2003
Damian P. Gadal (Santa Barbara, CA USA)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

K.D. Lang is blessed with a phenomenal voice, which she uses like a precision instrument. The selection of songs on this release really allow her to show this off.

A wonderful and timeless collection of music!